No extra cash at Christmas under universal credit
UK government ministers should reinstate the £10 Christmas bonus for benefit claimants, cut by the Tories as part of the move to universal credit.
SNP MP Chris Stephens called for the reinstatement of the DWP Christmas bonus especially as so many have lost out due to ongoing problems transitioning to the new system.
Stephens sits on the Commons DWP committee and has previously tabled questions asking the UK government if they plan to increase the value of the payment.
The £10 bonus was introduced in 1972 to provide additional support at a time of high inflation.
But the implementation of universal credit means the payment will be ditched.
Stephens said: “It seems as though the new UK government DWP secretary of state is playing the Grinch who stole Christmas from families who are struggling at a particularly difficult time of year.
“People cannot wait until the Chancellor’s spring statement for this support – the UK government needs to act right now.
“The rollout of universal credit has been used as a trojan horse to scrap the Christmas bonus, which has not been updated from its original £10 figure in nearly 50 years.”
He added: “It’s now up to Amber Rudd to use the power of her office to boost the Christmas bonus for those who receive it and to reinstate to those who have lost out under universal credit.
“This support must reach families in need as quickly as possible and the government’s inaction to date must be immediately corrected.”
£10 dwp xmas bonus was introduced in 1972. It was £10 then and if inflation pegged to have the same spend power at xmas would be £108 today ! Now that would make a MASSIVE difference 😁